Author: Lindile Kheswa

“Today, on Digital Day, we celebrate not the tools, but the transformation. Yes, we have computers, data plans, and platforms. But what matters more is how these tools serve our people. A child in Buea can now code. A mother in Yaoundé can start an online business. A chief can hold virtual court with their people. This is what digital justice looks like — when inclusion becomes infrastructure. At SayPro, we are not building digital systems just for today — we are building for the generation that will run Africa in 2050. The future is digital, yes — but only if it is also equitable. Let no one be left offline. Let no dream remain disconnected.”

“In a year filled with fear, uncertainty, and isolation, SayPro chose to rise. When the pandemic hit, we didn’t stop. We adapted. We took classrooms online, ran mentorships through WhatsApp, supported small businesses digitally, and reminded every community we serve that they are not forgotten. Because this is what resilience looks like. It’s not the absence of struggle. It’s the commitment to continue despite it. Some said our youth would fall behind. We made sure they leapt ahead. We distributed devices, shared hope, and trained digital warriors from townships to rural villages. SayPro’s response wasn’t just about survival — it was about redesigning the future, one empowered human at a time.”

“Too many people think leadership is about the spotlight. But real leadership doesn’t start on a stage. It starts in silence — when you decide to serve someone else. You do not need permission to lead. You do not need money, a degree, or approval. You need courage. At SayPro, we don’t train bosses. We build leaders. Leaders who sweep their communities clean before anyone arrives. Leaders who mentor someone without needing applause. Leaders who use whatever they have — data, time, hands, words — to make someone else’s life better. That’s the only kind of leadership that lasts. If you’re waiting to be given a title, you’re waiting too long. Lead now.”

“Education is not a privilege. It is a tool for liberation. When we founded SayPro, we were clear — we are not here to run workshops. We are here to run a movement. One that says every child, every young leader, and every community deserves access to learning, access to purpose, and access to dignity. You don’t need to speak perfect English to lead. You don’t need to be rich to make a difference. What you need is knowledge, and the fire to use it. SayPro’s model is not charity. It is challenge — to a continent that must stop underestimating itself, and to leaders who must invest in education like their own lives depend on it. Because they do.”

“Today, we celebrate freedom. But my question to all of us is — freedom for what? Is it just the right to vote? Is it the right to walk freely without fear? No. Freedom must mean the right to opportunity — the right to learn, to build, to own, to lead. I have walked in the streets where young people with brilliant minds are held back by broken systems. I have seen young women locked out of opportunity simply because of where they were born. That is not freedom. That is delayed justice. At SayPro, our work is to ensure that freedom has meaning — that it opens doors. Not just political doors, but educational ones, entrepreneurial ones, digital ones. Because when freedom touches opportunity, transformation becomes inevitable.”

SayProCMR Archives – 1985 to 2030

---

📍1985 – “Start With What You Have”

“When I look back on my journey, I remember the dusty streets and the hunger not just in our stomachs, but in our minds. We were told to wait — wait for government, wait for help, wait for a miracle. But I learned then what I live by today: we cannot wait to be great. You must start with what you have. If all you have is your voice, use it. If all you have is your hands, build something. If all you have is a dream, protect it like your life depends on it — because it does. SayPro was not born in luxury. It was born out of necessity, out of a desire to serve, and out of the unshakable belief that even one young person with the right mindset can change a community. I started with nothing. You can too. And if you do, you won’t just rise — you’ll lift others with you.”

Speech by SayPro Non-Executive Member: Isreal Basie Medupe

Distinguished Guests, Esteemed Partners, SayPro Royal Committee, Fellow Members, and Our Valued Community,

Good morning.

It is a privilege to stand before you today as a Non-Executive Member of SayPro, on this special occasion — SayProCMR SayPro 2025 Digital Day. Today marks more than just a milestone in our calendar. It is a powerful symbol of what is possible when innovation, inclusion, and purpose come together.

---

Our Role as Non-Executive Members

As Non-Executive Members, our role is not to manage day-to-day operations, but to provide guidance, oversight, and strategic direction. We are the voice that keeps the mission focused and the impact accountable. We ensure that SayPro’s initiatives are built on solid governance and driven by values that put people first.

And what we’ve seen in SayProCMR this year — is nothing short of transformation.

---

Celebrating Our Progress in 2025

In 2025, SayProCMR has expanded its digital footprint across communities in Cameroon. We’ve seen:

• Thousands of youth trained in tech, coding, and entrepreneurship.
• Women-led digital enterprises supported through micro-mentorship and mobile platforms.
• Cultural and traditional leaders embracing digital tools to enhance their roles in governance and education.
• Rural communities gaining their first access to digital literacy and online opportunity.

This is not just digital transformation — it is people-centered progress.

---

Governance, Accountability, and Community Impact

As someone who represents the governance arm of SayPro, I can confidently say that every investment, every initiative, and every innovation is built with integrity. The leadership team values transparency, ethical stewardship of resources, and active involvement from the communities we serve.

We don’t just launch programs — we measure impact, listen to feedback, and adjust to ensure that no one is left behind.

---

Looking Ahead: A Call to Unity and Purpose

As we look toward the future, our work is far from done.

We must:

• Strengthen partnerships that empower local solutions.
• Ensure that rural and marginalised voices continue to shape our programs.
• Keep SayPro true to its roots: grounded in community, driven by innovation, and accountable to people.

---

Closing Thoughts

To our funders and supporters — your trust powers this movement.
To our teams — your dedication changes lives daily.
To our communities — this platform belongs to you. Your growth is our mission.

Let this Digital Day be a reminder that when we lead with vision and integrity, Africa’s future is not only digital — it is equitable, sustainable, and bright.

Thank you.

Together, we are SayPro. Together, we build a digital tomorrow.

Speech by a SayPro Non-Executive Member: Timothy Maagoro

Honourable Elders, Members of the SayPro Royal Committee, Distinguished Guests, Partners, Friends, and Fellow Community Members,

Good morning, and welcome to this exciting celebration of progress, partnership, and potential — SayProCMR SayPro 2025 Digital Day.

As a Non-Executive Member of SayPro, I have the privilege of witnessing this organisation’s growth from a unique vantage point — one that is not involved in daily operations but deeply invested in governance, impact, and long-term sustainability.

---

What Digital Day Means for Us

Today is more than an event. It is a statement.

It is a reminder that Africa’s digital future is not a distant dream — it is being built now, in places like Douala, Yaoundé, Buea, and communities all across the continent.

It’s being built by our young people learning online, by women starting e-businesses, by traditional leaders embracing digital tools, and by organisations like SayPro that are bold enough to lead from the front.

---

The Non-Executive Perspective: Oversight with Purpose

As a Non-Executive Member, my role is to offer independent guidance, uphold accountability, and ensure strategic alignment between our vision and our impact.

I ask the hard questions:

• Are our digital investments inclusive?
• Are we serving the underserved?
• Are we measuring the right outcomes?
• Are we listening to the voices of the community?

And I’m proud to say — the answer, consistently, is yes.

SayPro is not only doing the work — it is doing it with integrity, transparency, and community ownership.

---

SayProCMR’s Impact in 2025

This year, we’ve seen:

• Over 25,000 Cameroonians engaged in digital learning initiatives,
• Groundbreaking collaborations with local chiefs and educators,
• The expansion of mobile learning in rural areas, and
• The launch of Digital Inclusion Hubs connecting people to opportunity.

These aren’t just statistics — they are testaments to SayPro’s commitment to people-first innovation.

---

Looking Ahead: Governance that Supports Growth

Our job as non-executive members is to ensure that SayPro:

• Grows sustainably,
• Remains aligned with its mission, and
• Adapts to future challenges while staying true to its roots.

We are not just here to watch; we are here to protect the integrity of the vision and support leadership in staying on course — both ethically and strategically.

---

Final Words: Community, Confidence, and Continuity

SayPro is proof that when communities are empowered, and when leadership is accountable, digital transformation becomes unstoppable.

I call on our partners, funders, and local governments: keep believing in this work. Keep investing. Keep collaborating. The return on your investment is a more educated, connected, and self-reliant Africa.

To SayPro’s leadership and staff — thank you for your tireless service.
To our communities — this work is for you, with you, and because of you.

Let’s continue to rise — together, digitally and with dignity.

Thank you.

Speech by the SayPro Royal Committee Deputy Treasurer: Jane Ndlovu

Honourable Elders, Esteemed Guests, SayPro Leadership, Partners, Community Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning, and welcome to SayProCMR SayPro 2025 Digital Day.

It is a profound honour to stand before you today as the Deputy Treasurer of the SayPro Royal Committee, on this momentous occasion where we celebrate the intersection of technology, accountability, and community empowerment.

Today, we are gathered not just to speak about digital progress — but to reflect on how that progress is being funded, managed, and sustained responsibly for the benefit of all.

---

Financial Stewardship for Community Impact

In my role as Deputy Treasurer, I carry the responsibility of ensuring that every resource entrusted to SayPro is used wisely, transparently, and for the highest impact.

Because at SayPro, we do not believe in spending for the sake of numbers. We believe in investing for the sake of people.

Our budget is not just a ledger of expenses — it is a reflection of our priorities:

• Education,
• Access,
• Empowerment,
• And long-term sustainability.

---

2025: A Year of Strategic Investment

This year, SayProCMR has achieved remarkable milestones in how we allocate and manage our resources:

• Over 70% of our funding was directed toward digital learning programs,
• Partnerships with local businesses helped reduce operational costs while increasing service reach,
• And we launched community finance audits to involve local leaders in tracking and evaluating our spending.

Through this approach, we not only deliver impact — we build trust and ownership.

---

Financial Transparency Builds Trust

In many communities, there is a gap not only in digital access but in trust toward institutions. SayPro is changing that.

Our Royal Committee has championed:

• Regular financial reporting to community boards,
• Open budget consultations with stakeholders,
• And funding strategies that align with both digital goals and cultural values.

Because when people see where the money goes — they stand behind the mission.

---

Future Commitments

Looking ahead, the SayPro Royal Committee is committed to:

• Mobilizing new investments that serve local innovation,
• Strengthening financial literacy training within our programs,
• And ensuring that every donor, partner, and community member sees their contribution at work.

Digital transformation without financial discipline is short-lived. But when vision meets accountability, the results are powerful — and permanent.

---

Closing Remarks

As we celebrate Digital Day 2025, let us remember: technology opens the door, but it is integrity that keeps it open.

Let us move forward together — investing wisely, spending fairly, and always keeping our communities at the heart of every decision.

Thank you to all who believe in this mission and fund this future.
Together, we are not only building a digital Africa — we are building a financially sustainable one.

Thank you, and may SayPro continue to rise with purpose and responsibility.

Speech by the SayPro Royal Committee Treasurer : Dipuo Mildred Mamabolo

Honorable Elders, Esteemed Partners, SayPro Leadership, Community Members, and Distinguished Guests,

Good morning to you all, and welcome to SayProCMR SayPro 2025 Digital Day.

It is a great honor to address you today as the Treasurer of the SayPro Royal Committee. On this important occasion, we celebrate not just digital transformation, but the power of planning, partnership, and financial responsibility in building sustainable change for our people.

---

Digital Progress Requires Responsible Investment

As Treasurer, my role is to ensure that every investment we make through SayPro — in people, platforms, and programs — delivers real, measurable impact for our communities.

Let us be clear: technology is powerful. But technology alone does not change lives. It is how we fund it, manage it, and sustain it that ensures long-term progress.

That is why SayPro’s approach is different. We are not chasing trends. We are building structures that last — with transparency, accountability, and community participation at every step.

---

Financial Stewardship for Community Empowerment

In 2025, under SayProCMR, we have mobilized and managed resources with integrity. Some key highlights include:

• Equitable allocation of digital learning funds across both rural and urban regions;
• Partnerships with donors and investors who understand the importance of community-led innovation;
• Transparent tracking of resources using digital finance tools — ensuring every rand, franc, and dollar is accounted for;
• And a renewed commitment to financial literacy, helping young people, women, and entrepreneurs better manage their own futures.

Our message is simple: we are not just investing in devices or infrastructure. We are investing in people.

---

The Role of Traditional Governance in Financial Transparency

The SayPro Royal Committee plays a unique and vital role in this process. As custodians of culture and community trust, we bring:

• Oversight that is rooted in values,
• Stewardship that protects both tradition and progress,
• And leadership that ensures funds are used not just efficiently, but ethically.

Our communities deserve to know where resources go, and how they benefit. SayPro delivers that assurance.

---

Looking Forward: Sustaining the Digital Future

As we move into the future, our financial focus will be on:

• Expanding inclusive access to digital training and tools,
• Strengthening local economies through digital enterprise support,
• And building community-owned platforms that reinvest in education, health, and entrepreneurship.

We will continue to uphold the highest standards of accountability — because we believe trust is our greatest currency.

---

In Closing

Let this Digital Day be more than a celebration. Let it be a commitment — to do more, to do better, and to do it together.

I thank the SayPro leadership, our partners, and especially the communities we serve. You are the reason we work, budget, and build with purpose.

Together, let us finance the future we want.

Let us fund a future where every African child has access to opportunity.

Thank you.
May our efforts remain transparent, impactful, and grounded in service.